Swan Dive

John Medina's short film, The Cure Complex, explores the epidemic of drug addiction in prison and the systemic failures that perpetuate Substance Use Disorder (SUD) in the prison system. "Recovery is an industry, and industries need customers. Rehabs don't succeed when people move on, they succeed when people stay," says Medina, whose own journey through addiction and incarceration motivated him to be an agent of change. His film highlights the importance of addressing the root causes of substance use — including trauma, poverty and isolation. Nationally, approximately 58% of the US prison population has active SUD. In California, where Medina's film is based, it's 65%. Yet, treatment behind bars is limited, inconsistent and often deadly. Only 15% of those assessed as needing help actually receive it. "True recovery isn’t about quitting something, it’s about building something,” says Medina. By investing in people, not just prescriptions, we can build more humane and effective pathways to healing addiction and staying clean, so that people can move onto meaningful and productive lives. Sadly, the current system, through ineffective, "evidence-based" practices, actually keeps people dependent on substances from which Big Pharma extracts enormous profit. Medina's raw and touching film uncovers how these profit-driven systems trap individuals in cycles of dependency through fear and control instead of empowering them to rebuild their lives. The film champions new and humane healing models that prioritize promoting self worth and purpose to manifest  healing and dignity. Medina is a proud Film Ambassador with Represent Justice, and The Cure Complex was selected to be one of five Represent Justice films streamed on Tubi to 100 million viewers. Watch The Cure Complex here!Have a Swan Dive to share? Text us!We are always looking for Swan Dive Stories to share so hit us up, send an e mail to Ron: [email protected] or Stu: [email protected]

Los Angeles County has the largest juvenile justice system in the country, and for too long, black and brown youth in LA have been shuttled into a system that favors cages over care. Represent Justice Ambassador, Kent Mendoza, was one of those young people, and now works to make sure our kids wonʼt face a similar fate. “A Million Dollar Cage,” produced by Kent, follows his journey as he fights to transform L.A. County’s youth justice system and create alternatives to incarceration. In collaboration with Represent Justice, his film is now streaming on Tubi to over 100 million viewers. Kent was born in Mexico but migrated to LA at the age of six, where his mother hoped to find a better life for her young children. Kent loved drawing and had a very creative mind but could not speak English and struggled in school. His father was absent and, an early age, Kent was exposed to gangs, drugs, and violence. He joined a gang at the age of fourteen and was incarcerated at fifteen, serving time in a probation camp. At seventeen, Kent was tried as an adult and faced a life sentence. He was instead sent to the Department of Juvenile Justice where he served 5 years incarcerated. Since his release, Kent has become a tireless community organizer and activist, artist, writer, speaker, and youth mentor. He was selected as an Ambassador with Represent Justice and, in addition to "Million Dollar Cage," he made the short film, "Chasing the Mexican Dream," connecting to his Mexican roots while exploring the creativity that comes with telling a story through animation. Along with filmmaking, Kent is the Director of Policy at the Anti-Recidivism Coalition.Watch Kent's TUBI film here! Have a Swan Dive to share? Text us!We are always looking for Swan Dive Stories to share so hit us up, send an e mail to Ron: [email protected] or Stu: [email protected]

NaJei (GiGi) Webster wrote and directed the short-film, The Truth Behind The Mask - The Harsh Realities of Reentry, now streaming to 100 million viewers on Tubi. Based on her own incarceration story, The Truth Behind the Mask is one of five films presented by Represent Justice that feature lived experiences that delve into themes of reentry after prison, youth justice, alternatives to incarceration, and the criminalization of trauma. After serving nearly a decade in prison, GiGi is passionate to help the women she left behind, using her story to reveal the hidden struggles of reentry that go far beyond securing employment and stable housing; everyday tasks often taken for granted become obstacles, from navigating paperwork, shopping at the grocery store or even using household technology. There's also family and friend dynamics that may have shifted uncomfortably after so much tine away. The Truth Behind The Mask challenges audiences to remove judgment and embrace empathy for people in reentry. “The one thing I want the world to know about me is that I am NOT who they said I was. And that I really am valuable. And I really do have a voice,” says Gigi, who now spends her spare time mentoring youth and sharing the wisdom she’s acquired from her formative journey. “There’s more to what you see when you encounter someone who’s been incarcerated,” she says. Shortly after coming home, GiGi accepted the challenge of getting custody of her younger brother to help him find stability in life. He recently graduated high school, something GiGi is extremely proud of. She continues to help educate her community on legislation and how to advocate for themselves, while seeking different ways to support the people still behind bars. In April, 2024 she was selected by Represent Justice to be an Ambassador, their flagship fellowship program that equips formerly incarcerated leaders, activists and advocates with the creative and technical skills to produce, message test, and nationally distribute short films, for systemic change. In August 2025, GiGi graduated from the RJ Ambassador program as a film maker. The Truth Behind the Mask is her first film, and she hopes to make more. On April 1, 2026, she was hired as Represent Justice’s Film & Series Coordinator, proof that her life is a shining example of trauma to triumph. Film TrailerWatch her film on Tubi here!Have a Swan Dive to share? Text us!We are always looking for Swan Dive Stories to share so hit us up, send an e mail to Ron: [email protected] or Stu: [email protected]